We’re excited to share a major milestone in Health Career Connection’s growth: HCC is officially launching in Denver, in partnership with GreenLight Fund Denver. This expansion marks an important step in our mission to strengthen the health workforce by creating paid, career-launching opportunities for the next generation of health leaders.
Through a $600,000 investment from GreenLight Fund, HCC will bring its proven model to Denver, expanding access to paid internships in healthcare, primary care, mental health, and public health for local college students and recent graduates. Over the next four years, hundreds of young adults will gain hands-on experience, professional skills, mentorship, and long-term career support, building both individual economic mobility and a stronger regional health workforce.
Responding to Denver’s Workforce Needs
GreenLight Denver selected Health Career Connection following a year-long, community-driven process involving residents, nonprofit leaders, and local stakeholders. Throughout the process, community members elevated the barriers many students face in securing good-paying, career-track jobs, alongside growing shortages in primary care and mental health professionals across Colorado.
HCC’s expansion directly addresses these challenges by connecting students from all backgrounds, particularly those from low to middle-income backgrounds, first-generation college students, and those from underserved communities with career-launching opportunities, to 10-week, paid, educational internships with mission-driven health organizations.
Local Partnerships to Strengthen the Region’s Health Workforce
HCC’s Denver launch is made possible through strong local collaboration and we are actively seeking additional partners to join us as we grow this work across the region.
CommonSpirit Health has joined as an inaugural employer partner, hosting interns in the program’s first year, and Metropolitan State University of Denver has signed on as an education partner, helping connect students to clear pathways into meaningful health careers.
As we scale in Denver, we invite healthcare employers, public health agencies, mental health organizations, nonprofits, educational institutions, and philanthropic partners to partner with HCC. Employer partners benefit from access to motivated, well-prepared interns who reflect the communities being served and a proven talent pipeline aligned with projected shortages and high-demand health roles.
Together with our partners, we are building a sustainable, community-rooted health workforce that strengthens organizations today and prepares future health leaders for tomorrow. Organizations interested in partnering with HCC in Denver can contact denverpartnerships@healthcareerconnection.org to learn more.
We’re grateful to GreenLight Fund Denver and our local partners for their leadership and collaboration. Together, we’re opening doors to health careers and building a stronger workforce so that communities across Denver can thrive and experience better health outcomes for generations to come.
